Refrigerator car door



vApril 21,1942. s. B. H'AsEL-nNE 2,280,232 f REFRIGERATOR `CAR noon Filed Dec. 27. 1958 3 Shets-Sheetl s. B. HAsELTlNE yREFR.'[GERATOR GAR DOOR April 2l,- 1942.

' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Filed Dec. 27, 19531.

I April 2l', 1942.

v REFRIGERATOR CAR DOOR Fld nec. `27, 1938 s sheets-Tsh'eet s I s. B. Hsir-:LTIN l 2,280,232.

Patented Apr. 21, 1942 REFRIGERATOR CAR DOOR Stacy B. Haseltine, La Grange, Ill., assigner to W. H. Miner, Inc., of Delaware Chicago, Ill., a corporationv Application December 27, 1938, Serial No. 247,737

zo Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in refrigerator car doors. One object of the invention is to door construction for refrigerator cars compris- ,ing a sliding door member for closing the door opening and means for supporting the door for lateral movement toward and away from the side ofthe car intov and out of the, door opening, wherein simple and eilicient means is provided for automatically displacing the door laterally as it is slid to and from closed position to seat the same in its opening and withdraw it therefrom.

Another obiect of the invention is to provide in a sliding door structure for refrigerator cars, means for automatically moving one end of the door laterally into and out of the door opening as the door is slid to and from closed position together with means which is manually actuated for forcing the other end of the door into the door opening to tightly close the same or pry said last named end out of the door opening to effect opening movement of the door.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sliding door structure as setforth in the preceding paragraph, wherein means is provided for positively effecting displacement of the door in endwise direction as thesame is forced provide a into and'out of the door opening to and from closed position by the manually actuated means,

thereby rendering said automatically operated means effective to perform its operation.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide al sliding door structure comprising means for automatically moving botli'e'nds of the door into and out of the door opening as the door is slid toward and away from closed position, together with manually actuated means at one end o f the door for positively forcing the door to nal tightly closed position and initially prying the same partly open. l

Still another object of the invention isto provide in a door construction for refrigerator cars comprising a door member mounted on swinging arms pivotally supported on carriers slidable lengthwise of the car. xed camj means engageable by said arms as the door isslid lengthwise of the car to swing said arms to move the door laterally into andout of the door opening, together with manually actuated means for forcibly moving saiddoor to tightlv closed position after the same has been moved into the door opening, and for initiating the openingmovement of the door by forciblyl prying the same partly open.

A morespecific object of the invention is to provide a door construction for refrigerator cars I..

comprising a door member supported on a swinging arm pivoted `on a carrier slidable lengthwise of the car, manuallyl operated rotary means on the door having keeper engaging means thereon cooperable with a xed keeper on the car to force the door tightly closed and pry the same partly open, latch means for operatively connecting the swinging supporting arm to the rotary means and disconnecting the same therefrom to thereby positively effect rotation of said arm to move the door into and out of the door 'opening and permit free rotation of said manually operated rotary means with respect to said swinging arm while the keeper engaging means is operatively engaged with the keeper, and means for positively actuating said latch means and properly timing the operation thereof during rotation of said swinging arm and controlling rotation of v the latter.

Still another more specific object of the invention is to provide in a door construction for refrigerator cars comprising al sliding door member supported by a crank arm pivoted for swinging. movement on a sliding carrier, means for automatically swinging `the arm to move the door into and out ofthe door opening as the same is slid toward and away from closed position, and means for positively and automatically latching said arm against rotary movement when the door is in position free of the door opening and clear of the side wall of the car, to hold the door against accidental lateral displacement during sliding movement thereof toward and away from the door opening, thereby holding the door clear of the side wall of the car at alll times during sliding movement thereof and preventing 'dragging of said door on theeside wall of the car,

stantially to the line 2-2 of Figure 1, the door being indicated in dotted lines. Figures 3, 4, and 5 are views similar to Figure 2, but respectively showing the door and associated means in different positions. Figure is a detailed horizontal sectional view, partly broken away, and on a still further enlarged scale, corresponding substantially to the line 5 6 of Figure 1, but said view showing the parts in a different position.o Figure 7 is a vertical sectionalL view, corresponding substantially to the line I-'I of Figure 6. Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 8--8 of Figure 7. Figure 9 is an enlarged view, broken away, of the mechanism at the lower left handcorner of the door, as shownin Figure 1, said view showing the door supporting crank arm in vertical section and illustrating the parts in a somewhat different position from that shown in Figure 1.

In said drawings, I indicates the side wall of the car which is provided with the usual door opening II closed by a single door I2. The door I2 is slidable lengthwise of the car and is displaceable both laterally toward and away from the side of the car to be moved into or withdrawn from the door opening Il. As shown, the cooperating engaging faces of the door and walls of thedoor opening are stepped and beveled in a well-known manner and the usual insulating packing material, indicated by I3, is employed to seal the joint between the door and the walls of the door opening.

My improvements comprise broadly top and bottom tracks A-A; carriers B-B cooperating with the bottom track; two sets of top and bottom journal brackets C-C and D-D on the door; an operating bar E at the rear end of the door having keeper engaging crank members thereon; a rotary connecting bar F at the front end of the door having keeper engaging means thereon; supporting sets of crank members or arms G-H and K-M at the front and rear ends of the door, the arms G and H being fixed t0 the bar F-and the arms K and M being connected to the bar E; keeper castings N and P at the top and bottom of the door opening cooperating with the keeper engaging crank portions of the bar E; keeper castings R and S also at the top and bottom of the door cooperating with the keeper engaging means of the bar F; Ya flxed cam member 'Ion the car wall cooperating with the supporting crank arm H; a fixed cam member U on the keepercasting P cooperating with the arm M; latch means V-V for connecting the bar E to the crank arms K and M; and a latch -means W engageable with the arm H of the bar F to hold the latter together with the arm G against rotary movement.

The tracks A-A are arranged respectively above and below the door opening, extend lengthwise of the car, and are fixed to the side wall in any well-known manner. The top track A is preferably of inverted trough-shaped form in cross section having the opening thereof directed downwardly, and the lower track A is in the form of a rail or bar. The structure of the tracks A-A is well known in this art, and therefore no further detailed description thereof is needed.

The carriers B--B are in the form of slides l supported on the lower track A by the usual anti-friction rollers which ride on the track and are suitably journaled in the carriers. The front carrier B supports the latch plate or l'ocking dog W adapted to cooperate with a stop projection I-i` on the track at the right hand end of the door opening, as shown in Figure l, to latch the door in open position. The stop I may be of any well-known form to cooperate with the tooth I 6 of the dog W to hold the door against sliding movement in closing direction when the door has been moved to fully open position clear of the door opening I I. The dog or latch W also cooperates with the lower door supporting crank arm H of the bar F, as hereinafter described, to lock said arm against rotation under certain conditions. The latch plate W is swingingly mounted on the left handl carrier B for rocking movement in a vertical plane, as most clearly shown in Figure 9, a pivot pin II being employed for this purpose, which pin also serves as the bearing for the anti-friction roller at the forward. end of the carrier. plate Wis mounted on the outer side of the carrier and is provided with a laterally, inwardly projecting boss or pin I8 extending through and working in an arc-shaped slot I9 provided in the carrier B. The pin I8 projects beyond the inner side of the carrier and is adapted to be raised or lowered by the cam means hereinafter described to actuate the latch plate W. The rear end' portion or tail 20 of thelatch plate W is tapered, as shown, and the extremity of said tapered portion is rounded oir, as indicated at 2I. 'I'he tail 20 of the latch plate W cooperates with `the lower arm H of the bar E, as hereinafter pointed out, to lock said arm against rotation. The latch plate W is extended outwardly beyond the tooth I6 and has a hook 22 at the free end thereof by which it may be manipulatedl to disengage the tooth thereof from the stop projection I5.

The bar F is vertically disposed and mounted inwardly of the front or leading end of the door, as clearly shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, and has the supporting crank arms G and H respectively at the top and bottom ends thereof. These crank arms or members G and H are in the form of end members riveted or otherwise secured to the top and bottom ends of the bar. Each crank member has a vertically disposed, shaftlike section 23 journaled in the correspond-y ing bracket C. The shaftlike' portions 23-23 of the top and bottom crank arms G and H are thus supported for rotary movement. Inasmuch as these arms are connected by the bar F, they swing in unison. Each crank arm G and H has a cylindrical bearing or pivot pin 24 at its outer end, the pin of the crank arm H, which arm is at the bottom of the bar F, being journaled in the front carrier B to provide for swinging movement of said arm with respect to the car rier. The crank arm G at the top of the bar F has a roller 25 journaled on the crank pin 24 thereof, the roller being guided in the troughlike way of the upper track A. As will be evident, the front end Iof the door' I2 is thus swingingly supported on the tracks by the crank arms G and H and guided into the door opening by said crank members in their swinging movement. Each end member has a lateral, relatively short extension 26, diametrically opposite to the corresponding cank arm thereof, provided with a keeper engaging lug or pin 21 which is eccentric to the bar F and adapted to cooperate with the corresponding keeper R or S. The pin 21 of the arm H depends therefrom and that of the arm G is upstanding to properly engage with the respective keepers. As will be seen upon reference to Figure l, these arms G and H are of slightly different design, the arm G being upwardly inclined from the end of the bar F, while the arm H has its outer end angularly offset in a downward direction with respect to the lower end of said bar. The arm H further differs from the arm G in that the pivoted end of the former is provided with an enlarged hublike portion 28 The , secured to the side wall of the car in proper position to cooperate with -said arm to actuate the same, said casting having a laterally outwardly projecting rounded cam portion 30 of substan- .tiallythe contour shown in Figures 2 to 5 inclusive. The hub. 28 of the arm H is further providedwith an upwardly `curved latch shoulder 3| with which the tail 20 of the latch plate W is adapted to engage to lock said arm against rotation. As will be evident upon reference to Figure 9, the rounded end face 2| of the tail 20 of the latch W and the curved surface of the latch shoulder 3| are substantially concentric so that the latch may swing on its pivot to a limited extent `without becoming disengaged from the arm H. to thereby permit the tooth I6 of the latch W to ride over and drop into engagement with the stop projection I as the door is brought to fully open position.

The top and bottom keepers R and S, which cooperate respectively with the `pins 21-21 of the arms G and H are of similar design, except as hereinafter pointed out. Each keeper is in the form of a casting 'secu-red to the sidewall of the car having an inwardly inclined slot 32 withinv which the pin 21 of the correspondingl door supporting arm is adapted to engage to cam the door laterally inwardly as the vsame is displaced lengthwise of the car in closing direction. lAs will be evident, the keepers are inverted with respect to each other, that is, the slot of the lower the inclined section 35 thereof as thedoor is being slid to closing position, and before the crank arm H reaches its position of engagement with the cam projection 30 of the member T. In riding up the inclined portion 35 of the slot 34, the pin I8 swings the latch plate W from dotted to the fullline position -shown in Figure 9, thus disengaging the latch plate from the shoulder 3| of the arm H and permitting free swinging movement of the latter. is thus free to swing during the time thatl the pin is moving along the horizontal portion of the slot 34. As soon as the arm H is unlatched, the

` cam opening 29 of the arm engages over the cam lug 30 and rides on the latter, thus Aeffecting swinging movement ofthe arm to move the door laterally into .the door opening.

, the arm H is fixed to the bar F,r which in `turn l ers R and S. As will be evident, after engagement of the pins 21-21 with the keeper engag- Aing slots, further sliding movement of the door toward closed position causes the pins 2'I-2I to be cammed laterally inwardly along the inclined walls of the slots to force the leading erid of the door tightly into the door opening.

In opening the door, the movement of the same being in the reverserdirection to that just dekeeper S opens upwardly while that of the upper keeper R opens downwardly. The keeper casting S differs from the casting R in that it has a depending portion 33 provided with a laterally opening guide slot 34. Themajor portion of the slot 34 is substantially'horizontally disposed, as

shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 9, and has a mouth or entrance opening at the right hand end thereof as seen in Figure 9. A relatively short portion of said slot at the mouth thereof is upwardly inclined, as indicated at 35. The slot 34 is adapted. to slidingly receive and guide the' end of the pin IB of the latch plate W to eiect movement of the latch plate, the inclined portion 35 of saidA slot forming a cam way which lowers and raises the pin as it passes along the slot to thereby engage the tail of the latchplate with the shoulder 3| of the arm H or disengage the same therefrom. Downward movement of the pin I8 is limited by engagement of the same with the lower end wall of the slot I9 of the front carrier B, thereby limiting swinging movement of said latch plate and assuring alignment of the pin with the mouth of the slot- 34 to freely enter said slot as the door is slid toward closed position. To control upward movement of the toothed end of the latch plate Wand prevent unlocking of the arm H, at the time the latch 'is being manually manipulated to disengage the tooth I6 thereof from the stop |5, a depending scribed, the operation of the parts is also rei versed, theleading end of the door being forced laterally outwardlyby the camming action of the pins 21-21 in the slots 32-32 of the keepers R and S until they leave the slots` and the cam opening 29. of the arm H comes into operative engagement with the cam projection 30 of the member T to further swing said arm outwardly during sliding movement of the door. This action continues until the arm H reaches substantially the position shown in Figure 5. When this arm reaches that position, the pin I8 has traveled down the inclined portion 35 of the slot 34 of the keeper casting and swung thelatch W from the full to the dotted line positionshown in Figure 9 to lock the arm H against inward swinging movement. In this-connection attention is called to the fact that swinging movement .of the arm in a reverse direction is also positively limited by a stop shoulder 31 on the hub 29 of said arm coming into engagement with a stop shoulder |31 on the carrier B.

The brackets D-D are similar to the brackets C-C with the exception that each bracket D is members 39-39 which are secured thereto by rivets or similar` fastening elements. Each end lip 36 is providedon the carrier B, which serves as an obstructionv in the path Vof attendants finger when engaged with the hook 22 to lift the latch. l

` are of similar design, except as hereinafter pointed. out', each arm having a hollow cylindrical sleevelike shaft portion 43 at its inner enjd jour- As will be evident, the arm Ina'smuch as naled in the corresponding bearing bracket D,

as shown most clearly in Figure 1. This sleevelike shaft 43 serves as a bearing for the shaft 40 of the corresponding end member 39, the shaft l4I! of the latter extending entirely through the sleeve 43. Each crank arm K and M is provided with a cylindrical bearing pin 44 at the outer end thereof by which the same is swingingly supported, the pin of the arm M being journaled in the right hand carrier B, as seen in Figure 1, and the pin of the`arm K carrying a roller similar to the roller 25 of the arm G, also indicated by 25, and guided in a similar manner in the channel of the upper track A. At the inner end of each arm K and M, that is, the end thereof which carries the bearing sleeve 43, an outstanding stop lug 45 is provided. As shown in Figl ure 1, the lug 45 depends from the arm M. As will be evident, the arm K, which is at the top of the door, is inverted'with respect to the arm M and has its lug upstanding. Each keeper engaging crank arm 4I has a flat face 46'on the side thereof, as clearly shown in Figures' and 8, adapted to engage the lug 45 of the corresponding crank arm K or M to effect swinging movement of said arm when the bar E is rotated in contraclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 8. To effect swinging movement of the arms K and M in reverse direction with the bar E, identical latch means is provided for each of said arms.

This latch means in each'instance includes the Alatch member V which is in the form of a plate of arc-shaped, transverse cross section, slidably mounted for vertical movement in a guideway 41 in the sleevelike shaft portionf43 of the door supporting crank arm. As most clearly shown in Figure 6, the guideway 41 is formed by cutting.

away a portion of the wall of the sleeve 43. The sliding latch l. plate V preferably corresponds in thickness to ,thethickness of the wall of the sleeve 43, and in width fills the guide opening 41. The arm 4I of the `keeper engaging. crank member is notched or cut away on the side opposed to the abutment face 46, as most clearly shown in Figure 8, to provide a. radial abutment shoulder 48 with which the latch plate V is adapted to cooperate. This notched or cut away portion accommodates the end of the latch plate when projected so that the side of this end portion of the plate is positioned toy be engaged by the shoulder 48 when the -crank arm 4I is rovtated in clockwise direction vby the bar E. In-

asmuch as the .latch plates V are mounted in the sleevelike shafts 43-43 of the crank arms K and M, the latter are operativelyfconnected to the bar E by the latches when projected. Reciprocating movement in a vertical direction is `imparted to each latch V to bring the same to D-D thus impartsthe required reciprocation to the latch plate.

` The crank arm M,'as most clearly shown in Figures 2 to '6 inclusive, is provided at its pivoted end with a projecting finger 52 extending lengthwise fromsaid arm. At the base of the finger l2 the arm M is provided with a second iinger 53 substantially at right angles to the fin- `Yger 52 and projecting laterally from said arm. 75

Yoperates with the door supporting crank arm M. This casting comprises an elongated, baselike portion secured to the car wall by rivets or any other similar securing elements. At the left hand end, as seen in Figures 1 and 6, the keeper casting P is provided with an enlargement 54 which has an inwardly inclined cam slot 55 within which the pinv 42 of the arm 4I is adapted to engage. At the right hand end the base of the casting P carries the fixed cam member or lug U, which is inthe form of an outward projection on said base. The lug U is rounded off at the right, as shown most clearly in Figure 6. A horizontal web 56 projects outwardly from the base of the casting P in horizontal alignment with the lug and extends to and is formed integral with the enlargement 54. As will be seen upon reference to Figure 6, the Yright hand end of the web 56 is spaced from the lug U, thus providing a recess 51 having spaced side walls 58 and 59 at right angles to the base of said keeper casting.

The keeper casting N, which is located above the door opening has a cam slot similar to the cam slot 55 of the casting P adapted to receive the rcrank pin 42 of the keeper engaging crank arm 4I at the upper end of the bar E. The slot of the keeper N faces downwardly and'is in vertical alignment with the slot 55 of the keeper P.y In other words, the keeper N is of the usual slotted type commonly employed with keeper engaging crank bars of door fasteners. In this connection it is pointed out that although the keeper Nand the door supporting crank arm K, which are at the top of the door, are not provided with cooperating cam means similar to that of the lower keeper P and the crank arm M, xed cam means' may be provided on the car which cooperates with each of said supporting crank arms for operating the same, if

found desirable, and such aA structure is clearly within the scope of my invention.

As will be evident, during sliding movement of the door the lfingers 52 and 53 of the arm M lug 45, and will be thrown inwardly by rotationA of the bar in clockwise direction at the time the arm is latched to the bar bythe plate V.

The bar E is adapted to be manually rotated by anoperating handle lever 60 pivoted, as indicated at 6|, so that it may be dropped to pendant position. A latch 62 of well-known form mounted on the door and adapted toreceive the usual,

car-seal, is employed to lock the handle in position when the door is closed, as illustrated in Figure 1. A second latch means, comprising a latch plate 53 is xed to the door in such a position that the handle lever 6D may be dropped behind the same, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, after rotation of the bar E- through an arc of 180 to hold the door supporting crank arms K and M against swinging movement, so that the door will be held against lateral movement when being slid along the tracks.

' In opening the doorthe operation of my improved mechanism is as follows: Assuming the door to be in the tightly `closed position shown in Figures l and 2 with the operating handle lever 60 locked against the 'door by the` latch 62, as indicated in full lines in Figure 1, the latch is rst disengaged from the handle lever and the latteris then swung from left to right. through an arc of approximately 180, thereby rotating the bar lii tothe same extent. As will be evident, the bar will thus be rotated in contraclockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 2- to 5 inclusive. The keeper engaging crank arms lI-ll of thel bar E, the pins 42-42 of which are engagedwithin the slots 55-55 of the keepers N and P, will thus cam the door outwardly during the initial rotation ofsaid bar, bringing the parts to the position shown in Figure 3. When the parts reach this position, the keeper engaging pins 42-42 will have reached the out'- er ends of the slots 55-55 of the keepers N and P and will be free to leave said slots as the doorA supporting crank arms K and M swing further outwardly with the door. At the same time the lug 45 on the arm M and the corresponding lug of the arm K are engaged by the abutmentfaces 46-46 of the upper and lower keeper engaging arms 4I-4I, thus compelling the arms K and M to be rotated in unison with the bar. At this stage of the operation, the latches V-'-V of the arms K and M will be actuated through relative rotation of the arms with respect to their bear- `ing brackets DD, the lugs 5 I-5I of said latches lentering the inclined sections 5'0-50 of the slots Vdoor away from'the' left hand end wall of the door opening. The pins 21-21 of the supporting crank arms G and H of the bar F wi1l thus move outwardly in the slots of the keepers R and S, causing these crank arms to be cammed outwardly to a .slight extent. During further -rotation of the bar E beyond the initial rotation referred to, the parts will be moved vfrom the position shown inFigure 3.to the position shown in Figure 4, the door supporting arms K and M V being positively rotated by the bar E through engagement ofthe lugs 45-45 of said arms by the shoulders on the keeper engagingcrank arms ll-ll. keeper P will be engaged by the iinger 52 of the and with the cam projection 30 of the member T. When the handle lever 60 has been swung through an angle of 180, the same is dropped to pendant position, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure l and engaged in back of the latch plate 63 to lock the operating ba-r E and the door supporting crank arms K and M against rotation,

these crank. arms being at this time securely locked to the bar by the lugs 45-45 and the latch plates VV. The attendant now `pushes the doorto the right to slide the same open until it completely clears the `,door opening. At the start of this sliding movement, the door supporting arms G and H at the leading end of the door will be eammed outwardly to fully open position This is approxiby the xed cam member T. mately the position shown in Figure 5 where the cam will clear the walls of the opening 29 of the arm H. While the door is being moved from the position shown in Figure 2 through the position shown in Figures 3 and 4 to the position shown in Figure 5, the pin I8 of the latch plate W will travel along the slot and down theinclined portion thereof, thereby swinging the tail of the latch plate `into locking engagement with the arm H to hold the same and the upper arm G against swinging movement.- The door will thus be rigidly held against lateral movement at both ends while it is being slid to fully` open position. When the door approaches its fully open position, the latch plate W rides over the stop I5 and the tooth I6 thereof drops behind the stop to lock the door when it reaches I said open position.

To close the door, the latch pme w is first disengaged from the stop I5 by lifting the hooked end thereof, the hook serving as a convenient finger grip for manipulating the same. The door is then pushed t'o the left to slide it in front of the door opening. As the door is being pushed along the tracks, the cam portion of the door supporting arm H at the leading end of the door comes into operative engagement with the xed cam T before the cam linger 52 -of the supporting crank arm M at the rear end of the door comes into engagement with'the fixed cam U, as will be clear upon reference to Figure 5. However,.-

before the cam portion of the arm H actually comes into engagement with the lug 30 of the fixed cam T, the pin I8"of the latch plate W enters the slot 34 of the keeper casting S and travels 'through the inclined portionV 35 of said ,slot to swing the latch to unlock the arm H.

` The arm H, which is thus free to swing, moves At the same time the cam lug U of the arm M, thus positively cammingV the door to the i right while it is being swung outwardly on the arms K 'and M. `During this outward movement `of the door, and ydisplacement thereof -to the right, the door supporting arms G and H at the leading end of the door are swung outwardly, iirstly,by sliding movement of the Vpins 21-21 of these arms in the inclined slots 32--32 of the keepers'R and S, and secondly by engagement of the cam opening 20ct the arm over approximately to the position 'shown in Figure 4 by engagement with the cam "lug 30 of the cam member VTwhen the door has been slid to an extent-to engage the linger 52 of the door supporting crank arm M. with the cam lug U. Inasmuch as, the bar E is held against rotation by engagementof the operating handle lever 60 with the latch plate 6 3, further sliding movement of the door cannot be eiected until the rhandle lever 60 has been released because of I engagement of the linger 52 with the cam lug U. At this stage of the operation, the operating handle lever 60 is unlatched from the plate 63, thereby permitting rotation of the bar E and the door supporting crank arms K'and M. After unlatching the lever 60, the same is swung to horizontal positionv and then from left to right f through approximately to rotate the bar E and eiect closing of the door. Rotation of the bar E imparts swingingvmovement'to the door supporting crank arms'K and M, which, at this time, are locked to the bar by the latches V-lL As the arms K and M are swung on their pivots the door is moved laterally inwardly and 'displaced to the left. During this displacement to the left, the door supporting crank arms G and H at the leading end of the door will be forced to swing in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 5, 4, 3, and 2, rst by camming action between the cam portion 29 of the arm H and the cam projection 30 of the fixed cam T and nally by wedging engagement of the keeper engaging' of the cam member U and positively camming the door to the left, thus forcibly moving the pins or lugs 21-21 into the ends of the slots of the keepers R and S, and camming the leading end of the door tightly closed. As the arm M moves toward the position shown in Figure 6 and the arm K moves in a like manner, the latch V ofv each arm is moved inwardly by sliding action of the lug I of said latch in the inclined portion 50 of the slot 49 to withdraw the latch from active engagement with the shoulder 48 of the corresponding arm, thereby freeing said arm so it may rotate with respect to the shaft E. When the arm M reaches the position shown in Figure 6 and the upper arm K reaches a like position, the latches of both arms are completely disengaged so that they merely support the door. As shown in said iigure, the operating bar E has been rotated to a sufcient extent to engage the pins 42-42 of the keeper engaging crank arms 4l-4I with the slots 554-55 of the keepers N and P, and further rotation of the bar E forces the rear end of the door tightly closed through camming action of the keeper engaging ends of the bars` in the slots of said keepers. During this final inward camming action, through rotation of the bar E, the arms K and M are swung inwardly with the door to the position shown in Figure 2,` thereby effecting complete closing of the door. The operating handle lever 60 is then locked by the latch 62- and sealed in the usual manner.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. Inra door construction for refrigerator cars having a wall member provided with a door opening, the combination with a door adapted to close said opening; of guide means on' said car extending lengthwise of the same; means slidable lengthwise along said guide means for supporting the door including movable door supporting members, said members being movable.

with respect to the slidable means to displace the door laterally toward and away from theis slid in a reverse direction, for moving said door supporting members in a reverse direction to move said door laterally out of the door opening.

2. In a door construction for refrigerator cars having a wall member provided with a door opening, the combination with a door slidable lengthwise o f the car in front of and a'way from said door opening; of swinging supporting arms for said door; a projecting abutment lug on the car; and projecting cam means on one of said arms engageable with one side of said lug when the,

door is moved in one direction and with the other side of said lug when the door is moved in a reverse direction for automatically swinging said arms inwardly and -outwardly as the door is moved lengthwise of the car in reverse directions to move said door laterally into and out of said door opening.

3. In a door construction for refrigerator cars having a wall member provided with a door openv ing, the combination with a door slidable lengthwise of the car in front of and away from said door opening, said door being movable laterally into said opening to close the same; of guide` means on said car extending lengthwise thereof; means slidable lengthwise of the car along said guide means for supporting the door including door supports movable laterally with respect to said slidable means and said guide means; fixed projecting means on the car Wall; and movable means associated with said supports intermeshing with said projecting means when the door is slid in reverse directions to and away from closed postion for automatically actuating said door supports to move the same in respectively reverse directions laterally through sliding movement of said door when positioned at said door opening to move said door laterally into and out of the door opening.

4. In a door construction for refrigerator cars having a wall member provided` with a door opening, the combination with a sliding door adapted to close said door opening; of door supporting means movable to project said door Into said opening and withdraw the same therefrom; a fixed projection on the car wall; and cam means engaged with said projection when the door is being moved 'toward and away from closed position and actuated throughsliding movement of the door for positively actuating said first named means ln reverse directions for closing on said car extending lengthwise of thel same;

means slidable on-said guide means for supportlng the door including swinging arms; and xed cam means on lthe car engaged by said arms during sliding movement of said door, toward and away from said door opening for positively actuating said -arms to swing the same in and out and move said door laterally into and out of the door opening.

6. In a door construction for refrigerator cars having a wall member provided with a,door opening, the combination with a sliding door adapted to close said opening; of guide means on said car extending lengthwise thereof; means slidable on said guide means for supporting the door at one end including a reversely movable rotary member for displacing said door laterally toward and away from the side wall of the car; and means for positively actuating said movable member in reverse directions to move the rst named end of the door laterally into and out of the door opening, comprising intermeshing projecting means on the car and said movable member, said projecting means on. the carlbeing xed and` in the pathof movement of said projecting means on the `movable.memberduring sliding movement of the door to and from closed position to -operatively engage said intermeshing means and actuatel said movable member asthe door is slid along the guide means. d

7. In a door construction for refrigerator cars having. av wall member provided with a door opening, the combination with a sliding door adapted to close said opening; of guide means on said car extending lengthwise thereof; means lslidableon said guide means for supporting the door at one endincluding a swinging crank arm rotatably connected to the door; cam means on the car engageable by said arm when said door is slid toward and awaytfrom closed position for swinging said arm in reverse directions to move i said door laterally toward and away from the side of the car; additional means slidable on said for sliding said door in opening direction lengthwise of the car. l

8. In a door construction for refrigerator cars having a wall member provided with a door opening, the combination with a sliding door adapted.

to close said opening; of guide means on said car extending lengthwise thereof; means slidable on said guldemmeans for supporting the door at one end including a swinging crank arm; keeper engaging means on said arm; cam means on the car engageable by said arm when said door is slid toward and away from closing position for swinging said arm in reverse directions to move said door laterally toward and away from the side of the car; akeeper with which said keeper engaging means has camming engagement for forcing* said end of the door tightly into the doorV opening and withdrawing the same therefrom as the door is displaced in endwise direction; additional means slidable on said guide means for supporting the other end of the door including a second crank arm rotatably connected to the door; a rotary operating bar on the door at said second named end having keeper engaging crank members thereon; an additional keeper with which said keeper engaging crank members cooperate to force said second named, end of the door tightly closed and prying the some open;

a cam memberon said car; and means on said K keeper means to force said first named end of the door into the door opening.

9. lIna doorfconstruction for refrigerator cars having a wall' member provided with a door opening, the combinationl with a door adapted to close said openingiv of guide means -zfonifgsaidifpar extending lengthwiseyof the Same; means Slidable lengthwise ons aid guides-.means for supporting the door including swinging crankJ members connected Ito the door at opposite; ,ends thereof swingable toward `and'away from ,the side ,of the car; cam means onthe car'coactingwith one of `said crank members to effectswinging movement. thereofr to moveV the `door laterallyk into and out of the -dooropening when said door is slid alongsaid guidemeans; and automatically i operated latchmeans engagingwith said cam when said door is vopen. ,1'5

operated arm to lock `the same against rotation 10. In a door construction for refrigerator cars having a wall member provided withi a door opening, the combination with a door adapted to close said opening; of guide means on `saidcar extending lengthwise of the same; meansslidable lengthwise on said guide means `for supporting the. door d including a crank` arm rotatably mounted on the" door and swinging with respect to said guide means; cam means on the car coacting with said crank arm during sliding movement of the door to swing said arm to movefthe, door laterally into the doorv opening and remove thesame 'from said opening; latch-meansiactuated by sliding movement of vthe door for locikng said crank arm againstrotation when said dooris in position removed from said opening; and astop with which said latchmeans is 'engageable for d holding the door against sliding movement when in fully open Y position.

l1. In a door construction for refrigerator'f cars having a wall member provided with a door open- Aing, the combination with a door adapted to close said opening; of guide `means on said `car extending lengthwise of 'the same; means slidable lengthwise along said guide means for supporting the door including a crank arm rotatably mounted on the door and having swinging movement toward and away from the side ofthe car; a cam lug on the car; and a projecting portion on said ram having shoulders engageable with said'cam lug in both opening and. closing sliding movements of the door to swing said arm A todisplace the door laterally.` Y

' 12. In a' door construction for refrigerator cars having a wall member provided with a door opening, the combination with a door adapted to close said opening; of guide means on said car extending: lengthwise 0fV the same: means slidl able lengthwise along saidiguide means for supl door laterally.

.13. In a` door construction for refrigerator .cars

`having a wall member provided with 'a door opening, the combination with a door adapted to close `said opening; of guide means on said car extending lengthwise thereof; keeper means `on the car; a rotary operating bar mounted on said door; keeper engaging means on said bar i engageablewith the keeper means to either' force the door `tightly closed or pry the same open;

swinging supporting means sliding with respect `to said guide means and swingable with respect thereto, said supporting means being journaled on said bar; and latch means actuated through rotation of said supporting means with respect to the door for positively actuating said latch means to lock the supporting means to said bar and unlock the same therefrom.

14. In a door construction for refrigerator cars having a wall member provided with a door opening, the combination with a door adapted to close said opening; of guide means on said car extending lengthwise thereof; keeper means on the car; a yrotary operatingbar mounted on said door; keeper engaging means on the bar engageable with said keeper means to force the door into and out of the door opening; bearing members on the door; swinging supporting arms rotatably mounted in said bearing members and journaled on said bar; means swingingly and slidingly supporting said arms on said guide means; sliding latch means for locking said arms to said bar for rotation in unison therewith and disconnecting the same therefrom; and cooperl ating cam means on said bearing members and mounted at one end on said door for rotation '16. Ina door construction for refrigerator cars Y,

having a Wall member provided with a door opening, the combination with a door adapted to close saidA opening;v of guide means on said car extending lengthwise thereof; a keeper on the car; a rotary operating bar mounted on'the door; keeper engaging means on said bar; means for slidably supporting said door on said` guide means including an arm swingingly mounted at one end with respect to said guide means and rotatably connected to the door at its other end; shoulders on said arm and bar engageable to effect rotation of said arm with said bar in one direction; and disengageable latch 'means for locking said arm to the bar for rotation therewith in a. reverse direction.

17. In a door constructionfor refrigerator cars having a wall member provided with a door opening, the combination with a. sliding door adapted to close said opening; of a guide track on said car extending lengthwise thereof; means slidable on said guide track for supporting the door including a swinging crank arm; keeper engaging means on said arm; cam means on the car engageable by said arm .when the door is slid toward and away from closing position for swinging said arm in reverse directions to move the door laterally into and out of the door opening; and a keeper having a cam slot within which said keeper engaging means has camming engagement for forcing 'the door tightly into the door opening and withdrawing the same therefrom as the door is moved endwise to and from closing position.

18. In a door construction for refrigerator cars having a wall member provided with a door opening, the combination with 'a sliding door adapted to close said opening; of guide means on said car extending lengthwise thereof; swinging crank arms for supporting said door guided on said track for sliding and swinging movement; xed projecting means on the car; and cooperating means on said door intermeshing with said projecting means and adapted to travel thereover and be positively actuated through sliding movement of the door with respect to the car for camming the door tightly closed when slid inone direction and for camming the door open when slid in a reverse direction.

19. In a door construction for refrigerator cars having a wall member provided with a door opening, the combination with a door adapted to close said opening; of top' and bottom guide tracks extending lengthwise of the car; top and bottom supporting crank arms journaled on the door; means slidable on said tracks to which the outer ends of said crank arms are pivoted for swinging movement; top and bottom keepers having inwardly inclined cam slots; and pro jecting top and bottom keeper engaging lugs on saidcrank arms eccentric to the axis of rotation thereof, engageable Within the slots of thel keepers to wedge said door laterally inwardly as it is slid toward closed position and wedge the same outwardly as it is slid away from closed position. l

20. In a door construction for refrigerator cars having a wall member provided with a door opening. the `combination with a door adapted to close said opening; of top and bottom guide tracks extending lengthwise of the car; top and bottom keepers on the car; a cam projection on the car at the bottom of the door'opening; a rotary operating bar on the door; fixed keeper engaging crank arms at the top and bottom of said bar engageable with said keepers; x'ed top to project and retract the same, as the door supporting crank arms are rotated in said bearing brackets, said latch plate when projected having shouldered engagement with the corresponding keeper engaging crank arm to operatively connect the same to said bar for rotation therewith in one direction, saidv keeper engaging crank arms 'having shouldered engagement with said door supporting crank arms to operatively'con-V nect the same to said bar for rotation therewithk in a reverse direction; and fingers on the lower door Vsupporting arm engageable with said cam' projectionto control sliding movement of the 'y door as it is swung laterally into and out of the f door opening.

' sTAcY B. HASELTINE.' 

